Deal puts Centre right on track
The Walton town centre development looks to be back on track after a firm of developers stepped in to take over the project.
The company O&H have exchanged contracts for the leasehold of the site with Frogmore and look set to take on responsibility for phase two of the scheme, subject to council approval.
He news comes after speculation that another firm, Shearer Property Group, was in Negotiation with Frogmore over the lease.
Announcing the news, Paul White, managing director of Frogmore, said: “We are pleased to announce that we have exchanged contracts for the sale of our interest in the redevelopment of the town centre scheme to developers O&H.
“We are delighted that the scheme that Walton has wanted for so many years will now be a step closer to reality and we are grateful for the part that Elmbridge has played.”
O&H’s involvement is good news for the town, as the redevelopment has been dogged by a number of developers withdrawing their interest in the scheme. Plans for the project include a shopping centre, library and 268 flats, 25 per cent of which will be affordable housing.
The residential part of the new centre has proved the biggest stumbling block, with three companies including Barratts, pulling out of the running to build the new homes.
Chief executive of Elmbridge Council, Mike Lockwood, confirmed documents had been exchanged between Frogmore and O&H, but pointed out that the deal has not been fully completed.
“Things are happening very quickly,” he told the News and Mail. “The council will be consider it on Wednesday and we will give a fuller statement when we can. We hope things will progress very quickly.”
The deal is especially good news for Walton’s traders, who had grown increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of progress over the town centre, and had even sought legal advice, saying they felt betrayed by Elmbridge Council and Frogmore.
They said takings were down because fewer people were visiting Walton, perhaps discouraged by the run-down state of the old centre and the closure of the shops within the site.
This week, Peter Myson, chairman of the Walton Retail Guild, said he was delighted with the news.
“Frogmore are gone and I hope these new people just press on and get the thing built,” he said. “It would be upsetting if they had to go back in any way and alter the plans and the planning permission. But we won’t know that for a little while. But if they did have to, I would hope they would put some facilities in for the youth of my area.”
Mr Myson added: “It’s good news, but I do feel our council can take very little credit for the mess Walton has been left in during the interim.”
Source: Walton and Hersham News and Mail
The company O&H have exchanged contracts for the leasehold of the site with Frogmore and look set to take on responsibility for phase two of the scheme, subject to council approval.
He news comes after speculation that another firm, Shearer Property Group, was in Negotiation with Frogmore over the lease.
Announcing the news, Paul White, managing director of Frogmore, said: “We are pleased to announce that we have exchanged contracts for the sale of our interest in the redevelopment of the town centre scheme to developers O&H.
“We are delighted that the scheme that Walton has wanted for so many years will now be a step closer to reality and we are grateful for the part that Elmbridge has played.”
O&H’s involvement is good news for the town, as the redevelopment has been dogged by a number of developers withdrawing their interest in the scheme. Plans for the project include a shopping centre, library and 268 flats, 25 per cent of which will be affordable housing.
The residential part of the new centre has proved the biggest stumbling block, with three companies including Barratts, pulling out of the running to build the new homes.
Chief executive of Elmbridge Council, Mike Lockwood, confirmed documents had been exchanged between Frogmore and O&H, but pointed out that the deal has not been fully completed.
“Things are happening very quickly,” he told the News and Mail. “The council will be consider it on Wednesday and we will give a fuller statement when we can. We hope things will progress very quickly.”
The deal is especially good news for Walton’s traders, who had grown increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of progress over the town centre, and had even sought legal advice, saying they felt betrayed by Elmbridge Council and Frogmore.
They said takings were down because fewer people were visiting Walton, perhaps discouraged by the run-down state of the old centre and the closure of the shops within the site.
This week, Peter Myson, chairman of the Walton Retail Guild, said he was delighted with the news.
“Frogmore are gone and I hope these new people just press on and get the thing built,” he said. “It would be upsetting if they had to go back in any way and alter the plans and the planning permission. But we won’t know that for a little while. But if they did have to, I would hope they would put some facilities in for the youth of my area.”
Mr Myson added: “It’s good news, but I do feel our council can take very little credit for the mess Walton has been left in during the interim.”
Source: Walton and Hersham News and Mail
posted by walton-on-thames.org at 5:23 PM
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